May Be Available: Jose Valverde

The Detroit Tigers hold a $9 million club option for 2012 on Jose Valverde which they are likely to exercise.

Valverde is 2-4 with a 2.49 ERA this season and he has finished 64 games while saving a league-high 42 games.

It seems incredibly unlikely that the Tigers would buy out his contract and allow him to become a free agent, but technically the possibility does exist and he would be one of the top of free agents if he were allowed to test the market.

25) Coco Crisp

Jason Miller/Getty Images

At 32 years old next season, Coco Crisp is still a very attractive option at the leadoff position and in center field.

So far this season for the Oakland A's, Crisp is batting .270 with 25 doubles, five triples, seven homers and 40 stolen bases. He certainly is still a disruptive force on the basepaths and also has been excellent defensively in the outfield, posting a .997 fielding percentage.

He should still be able to earn a two-year deal in free agency worth around $10-12 million in total value.

21) Jonathan Broxton

Jonathan Broxton's injury could not have come at a worse time for him as he prepared for free agency and a new contract for the first time in his career.

Broxton had 36 saves in 2009 and 22 saves last season. His K/9 ratio had never been below 10.5 before this season.

He's only pitched in 14 games all season.

The bone-spur injury in his pitching elbow may have made it necessary for him to sign a one-year contract and rebuild his value next season before re-entering free agency again and seeking a bigger payday.

20) Hisashi Iwakuma

Pool/Getty Images

After turning down Oakland's offer last offseason, Hisashi Iwakuma will enter this offseason free to sign with any MLB team he chooses.

Iwakuma could be one of the top starting pitching options available this offseason, but the shoulder injury he suffered earlier this season may cost him the salary he was anticipating when he chose to stay in Japan for an extra season.

He had a good season for Rakuten, going 10-9 with a 2.82 ERA, but he is on the wrong side of 30 and concerns over repeat injuries to his shoulder could arise.

19) Jason Kubel

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Jason Kubel is a little bit of an interesting free agent to watch this season.

He's hitting for better average than he did last season (.280 this year, .249 last season) but his power had dipped slightly (taking into consideration that he has played significantly fewer games this year). He averaged a home run every 24.7 at-bats in 2010 and one every 29.4 at-bats this season.

He's still a good option for a three-year contract though at just 29 years old.

17) Francisco Rodriguez

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

When the Brewers acquired Francisco Rodriguez, the first thing they did was restructure his contract with K-Rod's agent, Scott Boras. The new contract made his $17.5 million vesting option a mutual option with a $3.5 million buyout.

As good as K-Rod has been throughout his career, it is hard to imagine the Brewers exercising his option and paying him $17.5 million, especially when he has not saved a single game since they acquired him from the Mets, serving as primarily a setup man.

He's got a lot more saves left that in arm; I just highly doubt they will come pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers.

14) Aramis Ramirez

Aramis Ramirez has shown consistent production this season, batting .306 with 24 homers and 87 RBI. His OPS has jumped from .745 in 2010 back up to .868 this season.

Despite his good season, though, the Cubs will still decline his $16 million club option and buy him out for $2 million.

The lack of other third base options on the free-agent market this offseason will certainly help him take advantage of the market and score a new deal, but it will likely be at a pay cut from his current $14.6 million salary.

11) Mark Buehrle

Mark Buehrle, who will turn 33 before next season starts, has posted an 11-7 record with a 3.34 ERA this season for the Chicago White Sox.

He had a vesting option for $15 million for 2012 if he had been traded, but since he remains on the White Sox, he will hit the open market this offseason.

Buerhle stated in a Chicago Tribune interview two years ago that he does not intend to pitch into his late 30's, so this could be his last contract. I'd expect him to try to cash in on one last big payday before he calls it a career.

7) Jimmy Rollins

Len Redkoles/Getty Images

Jimmy Rollins is another player similar to David Ortiz in my mind. Not in terms of production or future contract status, but in that I can't imagine him playing in another uniform other than the Phillies'.

Rollins is still productive, batting .268 with 14 homers, 22 doubles and 28 stolen bases. He is a plus-defender at shortstop as well.

If he chooses to look outside of Philadelphia he could become an excellent consolation prize for any teams that loses out on their pursuit of Jose Reyes this offseason.

Rollins will be 33 years old next season but should still command a four-year contract this offseason.

3) C.C. Sabathia

Nick Laham/Getty Images

I realize I could have included C.C. Sabathia in the "may be available" slides at the beginning, but does anyone actually realistically believe he is going to pass the opportunity to opt out of his current contract and cash in a few additional seasons?

Sabathia has been spectacular since joining the Yankees in 2009, posting a 19-8 record in 2009, 21-7 record in 2010 and a 19-7 record so far this season. He has a 2.97 ERA this season as well as 211 strikeouts.

Sabathia can opt out of his contract now while he is still in his prime and tack on a few years to the end that he may not be able to command down the road. It's a smart play for him, and it should result in a slight annual raise as well.

He will likely be able to tack on an additional two to three years at around a $25 million per season average. Not too bad for a guy that only plays every fifth day.

Of course by opting out, he technically will become available to all 30 teams, not that he'll actually leave New York though.

2) Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder expanded his market when he declared he would be willing to consider occupying the designated hitter role and playing for an American League team earlier this year.

He is the youngest free-agent impact hitter that will be available this winter and he has had a great contract year.

He is batting .293 with 31 homers and 108 RBI so far with games still remaining.

Fielder is going to command a $20-23 million annual salary; the real question is how long of a term given his weight and long-term concerns about it may affect his abilities in the field?

Six to eight years will likely be his goal. I'd expect to see him land at the lower end there around six years, possibly five. I have no doubt he will be productive throughout his contract though. He has not played in fewer than 157 games in any season he has played so far.

1) Albert Pujols

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

The prized jewel of the 2011 free-agency class, Albert Pujols has rebounded from his early season struggles and put together another strong season.

He is batting .295 (a career worst...most players would kill for that average) with 34 homers and 85 RBI. His OPS is also a career worst this season at .916. The fact that his career worsts would be career years for the overwhelming majority of major league players illustrates just how unique a talent Pujols truly is.

He will be 32 at the beginning of next season, but should still be an elite hitter for at least another five or six seasons, and a very good hitter even into his late 30s and early 40s if he chooses to play that long.

Pujols is a three-time MVP and four-time MVP runner-up. He's also a nine-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner.

He's the most marketable player in Major League Baseball and will be rewarded for his on- and off-field contributions in his next contract.

He may not earn the $300 million salary he was reportedly seeking prior to this season, but he should still wind up the highest-paid player in the game before next season begins.

My best guess has him signing for around $240 million for eight years ($30 million average salary).